MADISON, Wis. -- A move many saw coming for weeks finally was made official Tuesday night, when Wisconsin's football program officially announced Dave Aranda as its defensive coordinator and Joe Rudolph as its offensive coordinator. The announcement came after the university's board of regents held at 4:30 p.m. conference call to consider employment agreements and compensation for the two positions.
Aranda will return for a third season after serving as Wisconsin's defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach for the past two years. Rudolph, meanwhile, returns to Madison following a three-year stint as offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Pittsburgh under Paul Chryst, who accepted Wisconsin's head coaching job last month. Rudolph will work with the Badgers' offensive line.
"There are a number of similarities with Dave and Joe," Chryst said in a news release. "Both are obviously terrific football coaches. They care about our student-athletes not just as players, but also people. As coaches they are committed to helping them become successful and well-rounded adults. The players can sense that and really enjoy playing for them."
Under Aranda's watch, Wisconsin's defense has allowed an average of 299.4 yards per game, ranking third among FBS programs over the last two seasons and trailing only Louisville (280.5) and Michigan State (282.9). The Badgers have allowed an average of 18.6 points per game during that span, the sixth-best mark in the FBS.
In his first season at Wisconsin, Aranda installed his 3-4 defense and guided the Badgers to a top-20 defense in all four major defensive statistical categories: rushing defense (fifth), scoring defense (sixth), total defense (seventh) and passing defense (17th).
Wisconsin ranked fourth in total defense (294.1), fourth in pass defense (168.0), 17th in scoring defense (20.8 points) and No. 23 in rushing defense (126.1 yards per game) in 2014. The Badgers also increased their sack total from 26 a year ago to 37. Aranda became such a respected and successful coach that he had his share of programs courting him for other jobs, though his intention always was to remain at Wisconsin.
"I love it here," Aranda said last month. "I love the players, No. 1. I love their attitude, their work ethic, how they approach their business. They are what I see as being the biggest plus of this place. My family loves it here. My wife is well-situated. My kids, good schools, love their teachers, love their friends."
Aranda came to UW after directing Utah State's defense to similar success in 2012, with the Aggies ranking No. 8 nationally in scoring defense at 15.4 points allowed per game. He also served as defensive coordinator at Hawaii in 2010 and 2011.
Chryst noted retaining Aranda was a priority as soon as he took over as the Badgers' head coach.
"Dave is the first person I spoke to when I got the job," Chryst said. "I'm very impressed with his knowledge of defense and his ability to put together a game plan. He has helped build Wisconsin's defense into one of the best in the country over the last two years and the numbers back that up. He is able to identify the strengths of his players and play to those strengths, which I think is the mark of a good coach. When Dave expressed a great interest in staying, I was excited because I believe it is a great fit."
Pittsburgh enjoyed its most productive year offensively under Rudolph in 2014, averaging 31.8 points and 435.4 yards per game. Pitt ranked No. 3 in the ACC in total offense and No. 5 in the league in scoring offense.
Much of that production came from sophomore running back James Conner, who earned 2014 ACC Player of the Year honors by rushing for 1,765 yards and an ACC single-season record 26 touchdowns. Conner's average of 135.8 yards per game ranked third among Power Five conference players, trailing only Wisconsin's Melvin Gordon (184.8) and Indiana's Tevin Coleman (169.7).
In all, Rudolph's offensive players at Pitt earned a total of 12 all-conference honors.
Rudolph returns to Wisconsin after serving as the school's tight ends coach from 2008-11. He contributed to the two highest-scoring offenses in school history, with the Badgers averaging 44.1 points per game in 2011 and 41.5 points per game in 2010, while Chryst served as offensive coordinator.
Rudolph coached four UW tight ends that have earned playing time in the NFL: Travis Beckum, Garrett Graham, Lance Kendricks and Jake Byrne. Beckum was taken in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, Kendricks was a second-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in the 2011 NFL Draft, and Graham was selected in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
Prior to Wisconsin, Rudolph coached tight ends at Nebraska (2007) and was a graduate assistant and strength coordinator at Ohio State (2004-06).
Rudolph graduated from UW in 1995 and was a member of Barry Alvarez's first recruiting class at Wisconsin. He twice earned All-Big Ten honors as an offensive lineman. In 1993, Rudolph helped the Badgers claim the Big Ten championship with a 10-1-1 record, including a win in the Rose Bowl. As a senior, he captained the UW squad that went 8-3-1 and won the Hall of Fame Bowl. He went on to play two years in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers.
"I've worked with Joe for a number of years and have witnessed first-hand how good of a coach he is," Chryst said. "He is very detailed oriented and has a terrific offensive mind. He preaches a tough, physical, smart brand of football that I believe is the foundation of the Wisconsin program. Being a graduate and having played and coached at UW, he truly knows what it means to be a Badger."
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